Loading machine for mines



I Jan. 10, 1939.

M. S. MOORE LOADING MACHINE FOR MINES Fild July 15, 1957 Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOADING MACHINE FOR MINES Matthew Smith Moore, Malvern, England, as-

signor of one-half to The Mining Engineering Company Limited, Worcester, England, a British company Application July 13, 1937, Serial N0. 153,408 In Great Britain July 20, 1936 9 Claims. (01. 26230) Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a plan view of a loading machine fitted with a shearing device in operative position.

Figv 3 is a side elevation of the shearing device drawn to a larger scale,

Fig. 4 is a corresponding plan view, the supporting bracket for the shearing mechanism being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the shearing dein order to lessen the resistance to the progress vice in inoperative position. 10

of the machine under the broken or partly broken Referring to the drawing, I is the main casdown material, along the cut previously made ing or frame of the machine, 2 the cutter jib by the usual cutter means. While such an arand 3 the loader frame which carries a belt conrangement is very efficient, it throws at times veyor 4 and a comb 30 adapted to cooperate with a heavy load on the revolving bar. a loader bar 5. The loader frame is pivoted; to 15 An object of my present invention is to prothe main frame at B and adapted tobe swung vide the loading device of such a machine with into alignment with the machine for flitting. shearing means in order to facilitate the progress To the end of the loader frame 3 is secured a of the machine while relieving the loader bar bracket 1 carrying a chain jib 8 extending in of extra work, a further object being to mount a vertical plane across the end of the frame 3 20 a shearing jib on the loading device in such and forwardly thereof. A chain 9 on said jib manner that it shall not interfere with the freeis driven from a sprocket wheel ID on a short dom of movement of the machine when it is shaft I l journalled in a bearing I 2 in the bracket not in operation. It has already been proposed I. Said shaft II is driven from a shaft l3 on to provide shearing means adapted to make verone side of the machine frame I through bevel 25 tical cuts in coal, and also to use such means in wheels I4, shaft l5, and flexible couplings I6, l6. conjunction with belt conveyors in parallel re- On the other side of the machine frame I is a lation thereto. shaft I3 adapted to drive the conveyor 4 and In accordance with my invention, I provide loader bar 5.

so at the d of the loader device a Vertically The bracket I in the example illustrated is seto ranged shearing device which extends across cured to the end of the frame 3 at two points. the'end of the conveyor and is adapted to make Rigid with the bracket are a lug ll bolted to a vertical cut in the coal or other material to the frame 3 at It, and an arm l9 pivotally en-1 be loaded. Said shearing device may convenientgaging a pin or bolt 20 secured to the frame 3.

ly comprise a chain jib adapted to be mounted When the bolt. I8 is withdrawn, the pin 20 is 35 on the end of the loader frame by means of a adapted to act as a pivot to allow of the bracket supporting bracket. with the jib being swung into alignment with The shearing device may be driven from a the conveyor as shown in Fig. 5. This is of adshaft projecting from the machine casing alongvantage when the conveyor is swung into align- 40 side the conveyor. Two shafts are conveniently ment with the machine for flitting, any over- 40 provided, one on each side of the machine cashang beyond the width of the machine then being for driving the loader bar and the shearing ing avoided. By means of an angle piece 2| chain respectively. This arrangement permits bolted to the lug I1 and to the frame 3 at I8 of reversing the drives when the direction of the bracket 1 may conveniently be locked in this operation of the machine is reversed, to suit loadposition. 45 ing in both directions. In operation, the machine advancing in the Preferably the bracket forming the support for direction of the 'O the Shearing the shearing jib is pivoted on the loader frame chain 9 moves ahead of the loader bar and cuts so that it can be swung into alignment with the ts W y through the 0081 o e down or adherhin ing to the wall. The chain 9 is provided with 50 These and other features of my invention will cutters 22 of any Su p In a dition to be more particularly described hereinafter, with these Cutters, I Preferably p de on each side reference to the accompanying drawing illusof the jib, a disc 23 also fitted with cutters 24 trating an embodiment of my said invention. On its P p y The discs 23 are rotated y 65 In the drawing: the chain, being rigid with the sprocket shaft CZI 2-5 at the forward end of the jib. They provide clearance for the flat sides of the jib which, should the machine tend to yaw or move side- Wise might jam against the solid coal.

It may be desirable to adjust the angular position of the chain jib, or to swing the chain in a vertical plane. To that end, as shown in Fig. 4, the jib 8 is secured to the bearing member l2 which itself is rotatably mounted in the bracket 1. On the bearing member I2 I provide a toothed sector 26 in mesh with a worm 21, which may be operated by hand or in any desired manner. 28 is a guard surrounding the rear portion of the shearing chain.

The construction illustrated is such that the bracket 1 and jib 8 can be reversed to suit loading in opposite directions. The comb 30 and guard 3| are interchangeable While the bracket 1 with the jib are adapted to be disconnected from 1 the pivot pin 20, and connected in reversed position to a pivot pin 29 symmetrically arranged on the other side of the frame 3.

The shearing gear according to my invention may also be used with machines arranged for simultaneous cutting and loading, or machines having two loader bars; the drives then may be taken alternately from'either gear box.

I claim:

1. In a loading machine for mines, the combination with a machine casing, of a loader frame projecting from said casing, a conveyor in said frame, a loader member extending longitudinally of said frame, a vertical shearing device pivotally mounted at the outer end of said frame, means for locking said shearing device in a position at right angles to said frame, and means for locking said shearing device in a position parallel with said frame.

2. In a loading machine for mines, the combination with a machine frame, of a loader frame pivoted to said machine frame, said loader frame projecting laterally from said casing in operative position, a vertical shearing device supported at the end of said loader frame, means for locking said shearing device in an operative position at right angles to said loader frame, and means for locking said shearing device in an inoperative position in alignment with said loader frame.

3. In a loading machine for mines, the combination with a machine frame, of a loader frame pivoted to said machine frame, a conveyor in said loader frame, a bracket pivotally mounted on the end of said loader frame, a vertical shearin g m echanism on said bracket, and means for locking said bracket in either of two positions at right angles to one another.

, 4. In a loading machine for mines, the combination with a machine frame, of a loader frame pivoted to said machine frame, a conveyor in said loader frame, abracket pivotally mounted atthe end of said loader frame, a shearingjib supported vertically in said bracket, means for vertically swinging said shearing jib, means for securing said bracket with said jib in a position at right angles to said conveyor, and means for securing said bracket with said jib in a position in alignment with said conveyor.

5. In a loading machine for mines, the combination with a machine frame, of a loader frame projecting laterally from said machine frame, a conveyor in said loader frame, a bracket removably secured to the end of said loader frame, a shearing jib mounted in said bracket, said bracket and said jib being reversible to suit loading in both directions.

6. In a loading machine for mines, the combination with a machine frame, of a loader frame projecting laterally from said machine frame, a conveyor in said loader frame, a bracket supported at the outer end of said loader frame, a detachable pivotal connection between said bracket and said loader frame, a bearing piece rotatably mounted in said bracket, a jib secured to said bearing piece, a cutter chain on said jib, said bracket, said bearing piece and said jib being reversible, and means journalled in said bearing piece for driving said cutter chain.

'7. In a loading machine for mines, the combination with a machine frame, of a loader frame projecting laterally from said machine frame, a

belt conveyor in said loader frame, a loader bar on one side of said loader frame, a flexible shaft on the other side of said loader frame, a bracket mounted at the outer end of said loader frame, a jib pivotally supported in said bracket, a cutter chain on said jib, said jib and chain when in operative position extending vertically across the end of said loader frame, and a driving connection between said flexible shaft and said cutter chain.

8. In a loading machine for mines, the combination with a machine frame, of a loader frame projecting laterally from said machine frame, a conveyor in said loader frame, a bracket mounted at the outer end of said loader frame, a jib supported in said bracket, a cutter chain on said jib, a cutter disc on each side of said jib, and means for driving said cutter chain and said outter discs. I

9. In a loading. machine for mines, the combination with a machine frame, of a loader frame projecting laterally from said machine frame, a conveyor in said loader frame. a bracket mounted at the outer end of said loader frame, ajfbsupported in said bracket, a sprocket wheel journalled in said bracket, a sprocket wheel journalled in said jib, a cutter chain in operative engagement with said sprocket wheels, and a cutter disc on each side of and rigidly connected to the last mentioned sprocket wheel.

MATTHEW SIVHTH MOORE. 

